Thursday 13 December 2007

Blount notes that Paul was one who was also able to break "beyond the boundaries of social expectation." He does this in Galatians right at the beginning of that letter when dealing with those who wanted to keep Jewish expectations of circumcision and diet in place - for all.



Paul, though is already on written record, in his correspondences to Thessalonica (2:12; 3:3; 4:7;5:9,24) and Corinth (1 Cor. 2:2), arguing that inclusion into the people of God is based on God's election through the gospel of Christ, specifically the gospel that records Christ's death on the cross. It is God's action, through Christ, that determines one's inclusion into the people of God, not ones adherence to and compliance with the Jewish Law. This means however, that if the Law is no longer the deciding factor, but God's act in Christ, then anyone and everyone who believed in that act could become a part of the people of God. It is this kind of radical thinking that provokes Paul when he makes his radical statement at Galatians 3:28:

"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"



This is fun. Paul really does come off as quite the radical. And yet, it is not Paul who is radical. It is the mighty act of God in Christ, Jesus - for all. Any limits on that word of life is to become someone who listens to another word...and that is not the Word of the Good News. Within the radical thinking that comes when one is overwhelmed by the gracious and loving action of God, what was considered impossible and out of place is given a place and become not merely the possible but the expectation of what life is to be within God's Reign already breaking in within the everyday stuff of our lives. To be quite frank, this radical word is too much for any of us to catch in its fullness. If we can be honoest with ourselves, we will put limits on it...our own limits...for our own reasons...to keep some control within our lives - we can bet on that. And yet, the promise is there always pulling us into the life that can begin anew -- now...right now.



Connection: Sometimes, we need to remember to let go. Some would say leap...some would say repent. Whatever it is, there is a life bursting forth ready to be our lives...now.



Come, O Lord, and stir up our hearts as you have always promised you would do. We know that we will resist you call and yet we need you to start bring change even when our hearts are hard and our minds are made up. Come, O Lord, and stir us up. Amen.